Fewer Hikers Took on Colorado’s 14,000-Foot Peaks in 2023, Lowest Numbers Since 2015
The number of people hiking Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains, commonly known as 14ers, dropped significantly in 2023, reaching the lowest level since 2015. According to estimates from the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, approximately 260,000 hikes were taken on the state’s 14ers last year.
This marks a sharp decline from the peak in 2020 when the organization estimated 415,000 hiker days, driven in part by the outdoor recreation surge during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The drop in numbers may reflect changing outdoor recreation trends or other factors influencing access to and interest in Colorado’s iconic peaks.
